Fuel-tank.



J. F.. DENlSUN.

fUL TANK.

APFLICAHOH FlLED SEP. 21, 19H5.

Patented July 9, 1918..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l` m INlfENTOR "mma J. F. DENISUN.

FUEL TANK.

APPLlCATION FILED SEPT, 21. l9i6. 1 ,271,675. Iaumd July 9,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESS NVENTOR 4 TTOHNEYS OFFICE.

JULIAN F. DENISON, OF NEW HAVEN", CGNNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GOTTFRIED PIEL, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

FUEL-TANK.

Speeilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9,.191`s.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l.y .l Umar: F. Dnxisox, a

citizen of the. llnited States, and resident of New Haven: in the county of New Haven and. State of Connecticut. have invented certain new and useful llnprovelnents in .Fuel- Tanks, ol' which the following` is a spccitication. A My invention relates in general to ,gravity How controlled liquid feedingv device de signed to constitute an attachment 'for install-ation in a liquid supply line. and par ticularly designed to be installed in the fuel Supply pipe leading from the fuel reservoir to the carhureter of an internal combustion engine .euch as iF used in automobile power plants. x l

ln one type of ravity feed fuel :supply dcvices for antonio iles the fuel tank is placed below the level of the carbureter and the liquid elevated in order that the fuel ina` flow by gravity to the carbureter. y

The dltiiculty which has heretofore existed in insuring a positive feed in exact accor-cb ance, with the different Speed requirements 0f the engine has been solved somewhat by 'nunping the liquid into an auxiliary tank and to control the flow by means of ioats in the auxiliary acting upon certain iow controllizm valves disposed in the pipe line. Theae /vali'es introduce objectionable feaL tures in that they are apt to leak. must be adjueted frequently. are. prone to .stick or work spasxnodically, and are expensive to construct, and install.

Accordingly, one of the objects of my in vention is to provide a valveless device for insuring a positive and constant flow to the carburetor. indepclldent of any irregularity in the rate at which the Yfuel is caused .to be drawn by the carbureter.

I attain this object broadly by providing a su pleinental reservoir tank free of controlling valvcn, positioned above the level of the carburetor and arranged so that the liquid may How freely from the tank to the, carburetor similar to such devices now known, but to supply the liquid to 'the tank at a rate greater than the maximum possible. demand on the tank by means of a type ot pump which will automatically ice-asc to function after a predetermined aniountml' liquid has accumulated in the, tank.

The invention also contemplates the use of a closed auxiliary tank for the purpono' tank may under Some circumstance?, tend to forni a vacuum condition in the tank which4 would ali'ect the gravity tlow therefrom. To prevent any such interruption to the free outward flow from the tank. the invention contemplates the. providing of release means for insuring a pressure on the liquid in the tank at least equal to the external air presl sure affecting the carburetor or other exhaust outlet from the tank.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will bt more fully set forth in the following parti. ular description of one forni of mechanism embodying my invention. and the invention also consists in eertain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter Set forth and claimed.

ln the drawing.

i Figure l is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 i` a Similar view, looking from the right hand side of Fig. 1, with partof the tank shell broken away to show internal Construction;

Fig. 3 is a view niniilar to Fig. 2, with the lower portion thereof taken in axial section y at. right angles to the view shown in Fig.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4.*4 and 5 5 of Fig. 8. looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. y

The device is shown conveniently constructed of two readily detachable parts. in vinding a lower mechanism containing hollow casting tl. constituting a support for n spun metal shell 7 positioned thereon and eoactingtherewith to form a liquid receiving1 reservoir This reservoir has a capacity sufficient to contain an amount. of surplus liquid to supply any abnormal demands on the system.

The casting includes a flat cylindrical up per portion 9, with the upper face, thereof recessed to form a well l0, constituting the lower portion otl the reservoir. The casting is provided with an out-turned peripheral the casting, and terminutcs in the center,

(hinge 1l, constituting u support for the louer open ond of tlnl shell 7. he open end of the shell is defined by un outstanding flungc l2, inter )oecd but weon which flange is u gasket 13. he shell :ind casting ure fus* tened together by means of screws 14 passed through the flange of the shell und through thc gasket into engagement with the flange of the casting.

One side of the cylindrical portion 9 of the casting is cnlurgod lo form a depending cxtcusiongl, which extends diamctricully of an enlarged ead 16 depending from and positioned adjacent one edge of the portion 9. The houd 16 is recessed from its outer face to provide a housing 17 for a two-bladed rotary pump 18 of conventional design.

The extension isI drilled diumetrically of the portion to provide u bearing 19 for :t pump shaft 20 driven by a pulley 2] and operutivel y connected to the pump to nctuete the sume, as is usual with devices of this character. The recess forming the housing 1T hns its outer side closed by means of a face plate 22 fustened to the heed 16 by ineens' of screws 23, arranged so that the rcmovul of the screws and plate provides ready access to the operative elements of the pump und facilitates the removal of the blades and pump shaft.

The pump is provided with a depending inlet pipe 24, constituting en integral part of the casting, and in fluid communication with a source of liquid supply usually disposed below the level of the tank and indicated diagrammatically by the L-nip lc 25. The exhaust from the pump is provi ed by means of a vertically disposed L-passagcwcy 26 (see Fig. 3), contained within `an extension forming an integral part of th casting within the outline o cylindrical the well forming recess and extending from the, wall thereof toward as shown more particularly in Fi s. 4 and 5.

in outlet pipe 28 extends upwardly into the shell 7, has its lower er l 29 threaded into the up-turned inner end oI the passageway 26, and has its upper end provided with a plurality `of outlet vents 30 positioned adjacent the top wall of the shell. The tank is provided with an outlet 31 in the form of a passageway drilled through the extension 27 to the lower end of is attached the'outlet nipple 32, constitute e coupling for the leeds the fue] to the cerbureter.

In order to increase the normal de th of the well of liquid retained in the temi; during the period when thepump isinoperctive, a relatively short outlet pipe33 is threaded into the outlet 31, with its injr/nke end terminating within the tank but below the level of the outlet vents 30.

designed to The extension 27 is pro/vided with a by-` Which extension.

pipe which pass 34 opening from the tank below the level ofz the outlet pipe, and lending into the passageway 26, past e control vulve 35.

',lliis c ntlol valvcis maintained normally in close position, uitcrcepting the passage 7o of the liquid through the by-pnss, und in the forni of the device illustrated Fig. l) is shown to be u frnsto-conicul valve engugingr a similarly shaped vulve seat and mam tamed in seated position by a coil spring 3U guided ou the valve stem 37 with one end thereof bearing upon the valve and the other end thereof bearing upon u plug 38 threaded into the outer end of a compartment 39 drilled into the extension 27 for the purpose of accommodating the valve parts.

The valve stem extends through the plug to provide u handle 39, by means of which the valve may bc moved into unseated position against the tension of the spring, so :is g, to permit :i flow from the well through the by-pass for thc purpose of priming the pump.

The tank is normally closed, but in order to permit en equalization of pressures in ease the pressure within the tank is lowered from normal, an nir inlet vulve 40 is provided in the upper end of the shell 7, und above the normal liquid level in the tank. This vulve construction includes a bushing 41 lixed to the tank and constituting an opening into the tank. A valve casing 4.2 is threaded into the bushing and acts to close the opening. The casing is provided with an inwardly facing frusto-conical valve seat 43. A simi- 10c larly shaped valve 44 is maintained in position closed on said seat by means of n coil spring 45 contained within a chamber 46 formed within the valve casing. One end of the chamber, and the other end bears on an adjustable stop 47 threaded on the valve rod he pump shaft is provided with u suitable oil cup 49.

In operation it will be understood that the 11o ,device is installed in position in the fuel feed line with the inlet to the pump connected to a suitable source of fuel suppl and the outlet ni ple connected to c car ureter or similar evice fed from the system, which device is positioned below the tank so that ,the flow through the outlet will be gravitetional.

Assuming that the pump is suitably primedn the actuation of the pulley from some suitable source of power will cause the des to rotate, thereby to' draw in through the pump inlet and pass therefrom into the tank through the outlet vents, as particularly shown 1n 125 the arrows in Fig. 2, and as is common with the actuation of rotary pumps now in general use. The level of the liquid in the tank will .rise and overflow through the outlet, und it will be obvious -thabthis flow will be spring rests on the bottom of thelos maintained as 4long as the liquid in the tank is above the level of the outlet pi e.'4 As long as this condition persists, the o w through the outlet will be uniform and suiiicient to meet any demands thereon by the carbureter" or other device supplied therefrom.

As thepump has a capacity for supplyingthe liquid tothe tank at a rate in excess of any possible rate at which it can be withdrawn, it will be understood that the liquid will rise in the tank, placing the air therein under compression, thus insuring a positive e'ection of the liquid thro h` the, outlet, in a dition to the flow controled by the action of gravity.

It will be ob -ous that the internal pressures in the t due `to the progressively rising liquid therein, will reach a point having a force suiiicient to resist the tendency of the ump to eject more liquid into the tank. nder this condition, the pump will run idly, the blades merely rotating without drawing any more liquid from the main reservoir, and t e iiow into the tank will be intercepted as long as any such abnormal pressure condition exists in the tank. The iow of liquid throu h the outlet will lower the liquid level in t e tank, and automati cally release the premura condition.7 thus permitting the pump to again functionate.

It is apparent that the lowering of the liquid level in the tank may tend to create a vacuous condition above the liquid level, and any such condition of course would in-V terfere with the free dow through the outlet, especially where the outlet is open to the air. Any such reduction of pressure, however, would cause an unbalancing action upon the `air inlet valve, causing the external air pressure to force the valve into open position, thus permitting the e ualizing of the pressure within the tan to correspond to the external air pressure.

It is usually true of devices of this character that, when inoperative, the liquid collected in the tank tends to leak out either through the carbureter or through the pump. In order to conserve a .supply suicient to inaugurate the action of the engine or other prime mover for driving the pump, the outlet pipe has its intake opening positioned some material distance above the bottom of the tank. Even though there may bea leak through the carbureter it will still be about one-third filled with liquid. Leakage is also aptto occur, thou h perhaps not to the same extent, through t e pump, but usually the pump wlll retain an amount of the liquid 4to insure its prompt actuation when started, even after a prolonged period of time.

Any leakage through the'pump must necessarily be past the valve controlling the bypass, but it `must be considered. that this valve is seldom used, and therefore'is subjected to but little Wear. It can be ground to have a snug Huid-tight fit on its seat, and the retaining spring may be made as strong as desired. In this way possible leakage past the pump is reduced to a minimum, if not entirely eliminated, and there is re` tained an ample amount of liquid at least to prime the pum and carbureter.

However, shoul it be necessary to introduce liquid in order to prime the pump and carbureter the valve handle is drawn forwardly, thus unseating the valve and permitting the liquid to flow from the well into the` ump, so that the succeeding actuation of t e pump will promptly cause a flow of liquid to pass into the` tank. Releasing the tension on the handle will cause the valve to re-seat, thus returning `all parts to their normal operative position.

By means of a device of this character it is possible to insure a constant flow to the carburetor, uninliuenced by the demands Yon the tank or the rate at which the fuel is supplied to the tank. There is little ii' any possibility of abnormal pressures :1c cumulating in the tank, or any of the other objections prevalent in pressure controlled systems now in general use. The device is always in condition to respond promptly to the inauguration of the pump action, and even if the tank should be emptied of sufficient fuel to prime the pump, the air valve may bereadily unscrewed from its seat, thus providing an inlet to introduce a small portion of priming liquid.

The form of air inlet disclosed permits of both an air Controlled valve and a primingV inlet in the same construction, thus minimizing the possibility of' leakage at this point.

In some types of devices it is desirable to provide an inverted U pipe llV bei Ween the main reservoir and inlet 25 to the pump and to have the crotch portion extend above the normal liquid level in the tank. This construction insures a priming of thepump as the tank and last reach of the U pipe forms a U-tank with the pump disposed therein. If desired a Vcheck valve 50 may be positioned in the first reach of the pipe 49 to eliminate any possibilit v f the liquid siphoning out of the tank.

Another modilicated construction contemplates'a depending overflow or by-pass pipe 5l leading out of the side of the tank' above a normal maximum liquid level and the lower end 52 of Which is arranged to be connected to the intake of the pump or may even lead back -to the main fuel reservoii.

Having described my invention, l claim: l. A device designed to constitute :1n insert in a liquid feed line, comprising` means for elevating the liquid, a reservoir for receiving the elevated liquid, and un outlet l ld from the reservoir for permitting the liquid to liow therefrom by gravity, fluid elevating means includingr a rotary lump having a rupacilv sullir'ient to supplly the reservoir :n. a rale in excl-,es oi' the rate. of liow therefrom.

z. devindesigned to constitute an inrsert in a liquid feud line, comprising a pump l'or elevating lbc liquid, a reservoir fortrereivinul the elevated liquid, acontinuously open passageway connecting the pump with the reservoir, an outlet from the reservoir for permitting the liquid to flow therefrom by gravity, said pump supplying the reservoir at a rate in excess of the rate of flow therefrom, and said pump controlled by the presence of a denite volume of liquld in the reservoir for causing the pump to Work idly and thus intercept the discharge into the reservoir of any liquid in excess of said definite volume.

3. A device designed to constitute an insert in a liquid feed line, (.:omprising a pump ior elevating the liquid. n reservoir for receiving the elevated liquid, a continuously open passageway connecting the pump with the resid-vou', an outlet from the reservoir for permitting the liquid to flow therefrom by gravity,.said pun-ip suplilying the reservoir at a rate in knees of the rate of How therefrom, and mean#` for maintaining a press-:ure on the liquid in the tank at least equal to the external pressure whereby lrbe outflow is maintained.

4. A device designed to constitute .an ine yrt in a liquid feed line, including a pump for elevating the' liquid, a valvelefss conduit for conducting the liquid free of the pump, means for insuring a constant gravitational flow from said elevated liquid independent of the rate at which it is elevated, and meansy for constantly driving the movable element of the pump at all levels` of the elevated liquid.

5. In a device of the class described., a tank provided with `a casting constituting a bottom, an outlet therefrom positioned above the bottom so as to form a well in the tank, enh! casting provided with an outlet leading from said Well, means opening into the ta k above the level of the outlet for supplying liquid to the tank, a cy1indrical removable shell for constituting the upper pol-lion ol the tank, and means for fastening the shell to the casting.

6. In a device ol the class described, a tank provided with :i bottom, a pump positioned in eaid bottom. an outlet therefrom positioned above the bottom so as to form a n'ell in the tank, means carried by the bottom and opening into the tank above the levi-l oi' the outlet for supplying liquid to the tank. und a liv-pass vinthe bottom openini: from the well below the level ol the out let into the pump whereby the liquid rernaining in the well may be drawn olf through the pump.

T. ln a device oi' the class described, a tank provided with a bottom, an outlet therefrom pmilioned abovil the bott/om so ae to form a well in the tank, means carried bv the bottom and opening into the tank a ove the level of the outlet for supplying liquid to the. tank, a liv-pase in the bottom opening from thcwell below the .level of the outlet whereby the lir uid remaining in the well may be drawn olii, a pump priming conduit contained Within the outlines of the bottom and opening from said by-pass, and means for controlling said by-pass. v

8. In a device of the class described, a tank, including a single casting constitutn the bottom of the tank, a shell supporte t'rom the casting and constituting the upper portion of the tank, and. a rotary pump mounted in said (.'asting and having adischarge therefrom leading into the interior of the tank, said casting provided with a pair of passageways therein, one of said passageways constituting an inlet to the pump, from the interior of the tank, an rotating said pump 9. In a device 'i' *he class described, a tank, including a casting constituting the bottom of the tank and provided with a' recese designed to accommodate a. pump element, said casting provided with a passage` means for and the other 4eonetitutin,r an outlet p way leading into said recessv to constitute the inlet to Ythe pump, said casting provided with a. second passageway for leading the Huid from the pump to the interior of the tank, and also provided with a recess adaptedv to provide a shaft bearing leading to the pump recess. i

10. In a device of the class described, a tank, including a casting constituting the bottom of the tank and provided with a recess designed to acconnnodatfJ a pump element, said caeting provided with a passage-` way leading into said recess to constitutie the inlet to the pump, said casting' provided with a second passageway for leading the4 fluid from the pump to the interior of the tank, and also provided with a third passageway constituting an outlet therethrough from the tank interior, said casting provided with a shaft bearing leading to the pump recess for mounting an actuating shaft for the pump element.

11. In a device of the class described, a. tank, including a casting'provided with a. recess designed to accommodate a pump element said casting provided Witli a lissage-` way leading into said recess to constitute the inlet to the pump, a demountable cover plate for closing said recess and arranged to rovide ready access to the pump element rom the outside of the tank, and a` pump element mounted in said recess. t

. tank normally air-ti ht, 'a pum Athereo a valve Casin 12. In a device of the class described, a u n for supplymg liquld 4to sai tank, `a uid outlet rom said tank, said tank provided with a bushi fitting into the upper ortions I demountab y fitter. into said bushing an constituting an air inlet opening into the tank above the normal liquid evel therein, and a valve can ried by the casing and removable therewith from the bushin normally closing said air inlet and opene by a pressure condition therein lower than the external air pressure thereby t0 break any vacuum which may form in the tank.

13. In a device of the class described. a normally closed tank provided with a liquid inlet and an outlet therefrom, means capa-- ble of forcing the liquid into said tank through the inlet ata rate greater than the rate of outflow through said outlet thereby to act on the eutrapped air in the tank to plac( the same under pressure, means for breaking any vacuum which may form in said tank. .said means including an air inlet to thc air space therein above the liquid level, and a` valve held in closed position hy the air pressure in said lspace and opened by a pressure condition therein lower than that of thc external atmosphere.

14. In a. device of the class described, a supply tank provided with a liquid inlet and an outlet therefrom, a pump constantly open to said tank and tending to creato a pressure therein greater than the external at-1 mospheric pressure. and means controlled by a pressure condltion in the tank lower than that of the external atmosphere for opening the tank to the outside air lnd thus relieve any accidental vacuum conditions which may form in said tank.

15. ln a device of the class described, a normally closed tank provided with a con--v stantly opened outlet therefrom, an open inlet to the tank free of valves, and means for forcing liquid into the tank. said meansI havinga capacity for forcing the liquid into the tank at a rate greater than it can How from the tank.

16. In a device of the class` described, a4

normally closed tank provided with an out# let therefnom, an inlet to the tank, and means for forcing liquid into the tank, said 1 means havingr a capacity for forcing the liquid into the tank at a rate. greater than it can flow from the tank, and said means arranged to run idly whenever the supply to said tank is intercepted by the pressure condition therein.

17. ln a device of the class described, a closed tank provided with a liquid outlet therefrom, a. rotary pump for supplying liquid to tank, an uninterrupted passageway between said pump and ank. said pump having a. capacity for supplyingr the storing normal pressure therein as to per mit the admission ot' the liqu'u from the v pump.

1S. In a liquid feed line, means for supplying a constant feed through said line, said means inchuling a rotary pump having a pumping capacity sutlicient to supply any drawing demands on the feed line, constantly acting means` for actuating said. uunp, a reservoir for receiving surplus liquid, said reservoir and pump coacting to constitute a means controlled by pressure in said reservoir for intercepting the admission of any excessive amount of liquid from the pump.

19. In a liquid feed line, means for supplyingr a` constant Feed through said line, said means including a continuously acting pump having a pumping capacity more than suilicient to supply any drawing demands on the feed line. a reservoir for receiving surplus liquid, said reservoir and pump eoacting to constitute a means controlled by pressure in said reservoir for regulating the amount of liquid admitted into the reservoir from the continuously acting pump.

20. ln a device of the class described, a normally closed tank, and a rotary pump adjacent the bottom ot' the tank for supplying liquid thereto, said tank provided with a. pump housing for containing the rotary element ot the pumpsaid housing having an inlet for lsupplying liquid to the same for the purpose of priming the pump, and means for controlling said inlet.

21. In a device of the class described. a normally closed tank, a pumpadjacent the bottom of the tank for supplying liquid to the same and adapted to he primed' from said tank. and a valve positioned in the upper part of the tank for auton'uitic-ally breaking a reduced pressure condition therein,-saidlvalve being` bodily removable from the tank so that the o ening for the valve may be utilized as a iquid inlet to prime the pump.

22. ln a device of the class descr1bed,`a

tank provided with an inlet passageway and separate passageway. D

23. In a device of' the class described. a

tank rovided with a bottom casting having straig t drillings forming an outlet and with an inlet passageway, said casting havfor controlling said ing un unlni'gvfl portion :ulaptcfl to house a pump fen' supplying liquiil to said tank ilu-Hugh snif! inwiugvwily,y n Separate passngmvny lemling from thi,A tank for the purpose nl' lmuling a priming,r liquid from the luuk to the inlety passageway und a normally closed vulva lmuHed within tlie tank for (-.011- tmlliing said .Lipal'ate passagewa .24. In a device of the class (lescribed, a

tank, n pump fm' supplying liquid l0 sniil 10 tank., :in millet lvafling lrnvuwnrd frnin suifl tank, und un invvrlvd U pip@ vnuslituling the inlet HWpply pipe leading tu the intake of said pump.

Higuud at. New Huw-.11, in tlm county of 15 New Haven, and Stute of ('ouuuntifnt, this 15th rlay of September, A. D. 1916.

JUL] AN F. DICNISON. 

